Well... I think I've got the fuel starvation issue resolved by just running the bike on prime. However, the bike is still sputtering and hesitating real bad at low RPMs. If I really baby the throttle it's smooth, but if i get on it just a little bit it's like riding a mechanical bull up until about 4k RPMs then it kicks in all at once and is fine from there on. I've disassembled the carbs and made sure there was no rust or gummed up fuel inside. Any ideas?

did you remove the jets, and ensure they are clean?  sounds like clogged pilot jets

Yeah, the jets were clean. I'm wondering if there may have been some debris in the lines that may have came loose when I was fiddling around with it? It is alot worse now than before I messed with the carbs. Also, the choke doesn't seem to be working now...engine dies as soon as I try to choke it. Was working fine before. Never needed the choke to get it started, so that's not a major concern... just wondering if it may give more insight into the problem?

GS5`s tend to like the choke atleast for initial start up,and if you can`t choke yours my guess is its flooding/to rich.Have you checked the colour of the spark plugs?

The choke was working fine before I disassembled the carbs. Cleaning the carbs shouldn't make the bike run anymore richer than before should it?

depends on if the jets were previously clogged and are now clean. clean jets will definitely allow more fuel than dirty/clogged jets. im not sure how large a difference it would be, but it can definitely change a bike from poor to perfect performance.

Finally got around to checking the spark plugs. The left plug looked fine, but the right plug was oil fouled. This means I have some type of a leak in the right cylinder correct? What's the recommended cylinder compression?

You are positive it was oil and not carbon coated Gas?  If you have oil building in a head like that, you have some big problems.

Quote from: deaconsfan on August 21, 2010, 07:04:46 PM
Finally got around to checking the spark plugs. The left plug looked fine, but the right plug was oil fouled. This means I have some type of a leak in the right cylinder correct? What's the recommended cylinder compression?

Looks like I might have a similar problem with my GS as you, I have the same thing with the plugs but the other way round, I haven't removed my carbs yet but I think it might have something to do with the connection between the carbs and the engine as on my bike I can feel hot air round the right carb the head gasket is ok so it seems a logical conclusion. Some one suggested that the carbs might need balancing?? Not sure about that, I want to rule out all the simple things first. If you find a solution let me know and I will do the same 

When you say fouled is it black sooty,black wet,white crusty...I`d check HT lead spark plug ign`coil,if only running on one side you could try switching coils to eliminate different part of the electrics.
Compression test,throttle wide open crank it over a few times,142psi min`/10bar  and you don`t want more than 10 psi diff` between both sides

The plug looks like picture number 1 here (http://www.dansmc.com/Spark_Plugs/Spark_Plugs_catalog.html), but not quite that bad. It is just a little wet looking along with some carbon build up.

Claire: alright... I'll let you know